Washington's Last Stop

Depending on your point of view, Bellingham, Washington, is either a small city or a big town. But its location—near the U.S.-Vancouver border, with Bellingham Bay on one side and the north Cascade Mountains on the other—makes it pretty much ideal for any outdoor fun. And the local scene proves it. Sunset magazine named Bellingham “The Best Place to Play Year Round,” beating out Bend, Oregon, and Boulder, Colorado, in the process. In 2011, TIME magazine named it the 9th most-active city in America. Kayaking, running, skiing, it’s here. A great live-music scene? That too. Good coffee bars and fresh brews? Check. And the riding? Ah, that’s the clincher.

It’s almost too easy to get to. A series of paths called the Interurban, after a defunct electric trolley network, connects downtown Bellingham to Larrabee State Park and Galbraith Mountain—two centers of great riding in the area—so hours of trail-tastic fun are an easy pedal away. Big climbs, flowing singletrack, and terrain straight out of a B.C.-based mountain biking video…yeah, it’s all here. If there’s a problem with riding in Bellingham, it’s that there’s so much to choose from it’s hard to actually choose, and easy to get lost. So come on in, go for a ride…but get a trail map for sure. And check with a local for the best possible experience.

GET HOOKEDWhen to go: Visit between May and October for the best weather; Bellingham receives the bulk of its 35 annual inches of rain in winter.